The McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle is one of the most successful fighter designs of the 20th century. The type first flew in 1972, transitioning directly from the drawing board to production with remarkably few hiccups. By late 1974, planes were already being delivered to operational units, and it remains on active duty with several major international militaries today, including the US Air Force. Along with an excellent record for safety and reliability, the F-15 has also compiled more than 100 victories without a loss in air-to-air combat. This book has been brought fully up to date with the latest variants, including the F-15EX Eagle II, which entered service just in 2021. Aviation enthusiasts will enjoy more than 300 images, with everything from detail shots on the ground to action-packed aerial photography.

Bind: hardback

Pages: 144

Dimensions: 228 x 228 mm

Publication Date: 28-07-2023

As of 2023, the Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird is the fastest manned jet aircraft ever produced. It set the record in 1976 and has been retired since the late 1990s. With its unrivaled speed and stunning appearance, the Blackbird has maintained an almost supernatural mystique to this day. The type entered service in the 1960s as a high-altitude (and obviously extremely high speed) military reconnaissance aircraft. Just 32 were built, nearly half of which were written off in accidents. Nearly 300 images are packed into this latest entry in the Legends of Warfare series. This is a great gift for your favorite modeler, pilot, or aspiring pilot.

Bind: hardback

Pages: 144

Dimensions: 228 x 228 mm

Publication Date: 28-08-2023

The first full reappraisal of one of Britain’s great fighter aces, this book examines the truth behind Tuck’s 1956 biography, Fly for Your Life. It looks at the evidence behind the myths, checks out some of the exaggerated stories and reveals the real Stanford Tuck. In January 1942 Bob Tuck was the top-scoring British fighter ace with an official score of 29 enemy aircraft destroyed. With film-star looks he was the glamorous role model for the RAF publicity machine and an eager press and public wanting wartime heroes. He had joined the RAF in 1935 and quickly showed his excellent flying skills. In 1940 his Spitfire squadron was fighting over Dunkirk where he proved himself an expert shot. During the Battle of Britain his legendary prowess grew and he was posted to command a leaderless and demoralised squadron, this time flying Hurricanes. He continued to prove he was an outstanding fighter ace, gaining the rare distinction of three DFCs and then the DSO for his leadership. He was shot down over France in January 1942 and imprisoned in Stalag Luft III. His room-mate was Roger Bushell, the mastermind of the Great Escape and Tuck worked with him on the committee and was to be his partner in the escape. In January 1944 however, around 20 POWs, including Tuck, were purged to a new camp. Still determined to escape, when his camp was moved out on the Long March westwards, Tuck and a Polish officer took a risky chance and made their way east to Russian forces and thence to England. This book reveals a more complex man than the one-dimensional hero of the previous biography. Post war, he became good friends with the Luftwaffe ace, Adolf Galland, and was a key advisor with him on the film, Battle of Britain, and, often with his other friend, Douglas Bader, made many media appearances. His health suffered in later years from the impact of his war service and his imprisonment and he died aged 70 in 1987.

Bind: hardback

Pages: 224

Dimensions: 156 x 234 mm

Publication Date: 29-09-2023

On the night of July 4, 1943, transport aircraft Liberator AL523 took off from Gibraltar’s North Front tarmac and within moments crashed into the sea with only one survivor, the pilot. The commander-in-chief of the Polish army and prime minister of the Polish government in exile, General Wladyslaw Sikorski, was dead. Rumours as to the cause of the crash abounded. Was it pilot error? Was it, as officially classified, merely an accident, or was it, as the authors conclude in this riveting and meticulous study, an act of sabotage? The catastrophe has led to several conspiracy theories over the years that still persist, often proposing that it was an assassination, variously blamed on the British, Soviets and Nazis. However, by sifting through numerous primary sources, the complete court of inquiry transcript, detailed analysis of aircraft components and systems, and unearthing many little-known eyewitness accounts, the authors’ conclusion is compelling. Despite AL523 being heavy and possibly overloaded, this was not the contributing cause of the crash. The pilot had competently taken off and cleared the runway. The sole reason for the aircraft’s fall to earth was simply a cotton rag used by Polish saboteur Bronislaw Urbanski to obstruct elevator travel. He and he alone was responsible for one of the most shocking events of WWII. This is an exhaustive piece of investigative journalism to put the record straight once and for all. Lead author, Canadian Chris Wroblewski’s background in aircraft maintenance and military history proved advantageous in his research for this book. Co-author and British-born Garth Barnard has a lifelong resolve to investigate catastrophic air crashes in WWII and his work on the Sikorski crash led to him being investigator and presenter on related TV programmes and to many historical societies in the UK.

Bind: hardback

Pages: 192

Dimensions: 156 x 234 mm

Publication Date: 31-10-2023

During five years of research for the four volumes of the Fleet Air Arm Boys book series covering the post-war FAA, former personnel not only contributed a huge quantity of stories but also sent many thousands of photographs, largely taken by themselves, and mostly never previously seen. It soon became clear that what was needed was a stand-alone photograph-heavy book, showing off many of these superb photos to best effect by giving them up to a full page or more with high quality reproduction. Whereas the ‘Boys’ books are all about fascinating stories supported by photos, here you have fascinating photos supported by some explanation and the occasional short supporting story. The opportunity has also been taken to expand the coverage to cover the whole history from the start of the Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS) before the First World War to today, illustrating the changing equipment and roles of the service. Coverage is not limited to just a large representative group of aircraft, but also includes many ships and air stations. Most importantly, air and ground crew are highlighted throughout, both at work and at play, and those who lost their lives are suitably remembered. Flying with the Navy is a once-in-a-lifetime publication and a must-have for all devotees of this truly astounding branch of the armed forces.

Bind: hardback

Pages: 176

Dimensions: 290 x 220 mm

Publication Date: 31-10-2023

Much has been written about the V-bombers – the Valiant, Victor and Vulcan – but virtually nothing has been said about their strategic nuclear strike role. How would Britain’s small force of subsonic bombers have retaliated following a Soviet attack? Would they have succeeded in visiting thermonuclear catastrophe on their Soviet targets? V-Bombers: Britain’s Nuclear Frontline in the Cold War is the first detailed account of the operational capability and credibility of Britain’s airborne nuclear deterrent during the peak years of the Cold War. This book is the product of six years of research by the author, Dr Tony Redding. It includes a great deal of fresh material on V-force weapons, war mission, targeting, vulnerabilities and tactics for attacking targets within Soviet Russia. Over 70 V-force aircrew and ground crew were interviewed and over 300 operational research reports and other official documents were reviewed. This book demonstrates how the V-bombers retained a unilateral capacity to destroy the largest cities in the Soviet Union until the handover of the strategic nuclear deterrent to the Polaris submarines in 1969. It concludes that a small force of surviving V-bombers could have unleashed the explosive power of all Allied bombs dropped on Germany in six years of war, but in the space of the first two hours of World War 3. A sobering thought and a fascinating and necessary read for all those interested in this period of history.

Bind: hardback

Pages: 256

Dimensions: 156 x 234 mm

Publication Date: 31-10-2023

Discover the amazing combat machines that have graced the skies, land, and sea of the world's most famous conflicts! History and development of dozens of legendary military vehicles from World War I, World War II, the Vietnam War, the Gulf War, Operation Desert Storm, and more The best of the best, from the iconic Spitfires and Lancasters of WWII to today's stealth bombers and super-smart combat tanks Detailed articles written by leading historians, scholars, and other experts in military history Full-color photos and drawings of combat machines for the land, sea, and air, including the 20 greatest machines of war A showcase of the world's most powerful military might, from the Churchill tank used in the Second World War to warships, Humvees, naval U-boat submarines, and more Wars have been waged for thousands of years. But with the advent of industry and technology, war machines have evolved into complex and intricate vessels. A fascinating account of the history and development of dozens of legendary military vehicles — from the German Tiger tanks of the Second World War and the nuclear-powered submarine to the high-tech fighter jets of today and the military technology of the future — A Visual History of World Military Machines details the facts and figures that you need to know to be a combat machine expert! Featuring complete breakdowns of the technology that makes these tanks, choppers, and battleships the best of the best, this guide spans the last 100 years of warfare and how it has evolved. Along with the type of power each machine contains and how it was used, you will learn which tank was capable of being air-dropped from a cargo plane, which warship is the last of its kind, what it takes to be a Top Gun pilot, and what the next generations of aircraft carriers will look like.

Bind: paperback

Pages: 160

Dimensions: 216 x 279 mm

Publication Date: 31-10-2023

When America declared war on Germany in 1917, it unleashed a resumption of unrestricted submarine warfare off the North American coast. Until now, German naval records have not been extensively utilized in English-language histories of this brief but intense period of naval combat in the Atlantic. By studying and comparing both American and German archival sources, author Dominic Etzold has constructed an engaging, modern, and revelatory account of the operation.

Bind: hardback

Pages: 416

Dimensions: 152 x 228 mm

Publication Date: 28-10-2023

Discover the enigmatic secrets of Area 51, a clandestine military base nestled in the arid expanses of the Las Vegas desert. Unraveling the veil of speculation and conspiracy that has shrouded this facility since its establishment in 1955, esteemed aerospace historian Peter Merlin presents a meticulously researched and captivating account of its evolution. From its humble origins as a makeshift outpost to its metamorphosis into a premier hub for testing advanced aviation technologies and cutting-edge weaponry, Merlin unveils the true chronicle behind Area 51. Drawing on a wealth of declassified documents and exclusive interviews, this enthralling narrative provides an unprecedented level of insight into the inner workings of this highly classified institution. The text is complemented by an impressive array of over 700 images, many of which have never been unveiled to the public, and readers will be immersed in a visual journey that brings this hidden world to life. Renowned author Peter Merlin, recognized for his expertise in aerospace history, has shared his knowledge in numerous esteemed film and television documentaries for reputable networks such as the History Channel, Discovery, National Geographic, and Smithsonian. In crafting this manuscript, he upholds the same rigorous academic standards employed in his works published by esteemed institutions such as NASA and the American Institute for Aeronautics and Astronautics. Embark on an extraordinary exploration of Area 51 that will forever alter your perception of this enigmatic military stronghold. Peter Merlin’s meticulously researched account, enriched with unprecedented visuals and backed by his extensive expertise, unveils the truth behind the myths and legends surrounding this extraordinary facility.

Bind: hardback

Pages: 640

Dimensions: 215 x 279 mm

Publication Date: 28-10-2023

War poetry has always caught the public imagination. Here, Andrew Motion chooses ten war poems from an enormous, varied and arresting tradition. Wishing to “catch the subject by surprise” rather than opt for the obvious classics, his chosen poems meet the reader head on. “In the poems that follow, we hear a range of voices from this country and beyond, from ancient history and the present. They all have feelings in common – fear, dread, regret, horror, defiance, sorrow. And they all express them in ways that make us concentrate on the individuality of their authors and their subjects.” Poems by Li Bai, Keith Douglas, Miroslav Holub, Yusef Komunyakaa, Andrew Motion, Alice Oswald, Wilfred Owen, Stevie Smith and Walt Whitman.

Bind: paperback

Pages: 28

Dimensions: 137 x 210 mm

Publication Date: 01-07-2016